Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has completed a one-year loan move to Everton.
The England international joins in search of regular first-team football ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Grealish will wear the No 18 shirt at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, a number worn previously by two of his boyhood heroes, Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne.
He revealed he consulted Rooney before making the switch and the Everton and Manchester United legend gave his approval.
The 29-year-old Grealish fell down the pecking order at City, starting only seven Premier League games last season despite a £100m price tag.
He was also left out of City’s recent Club World Cup squad, although the club said this was to give him time to sort out his future. He then spent much of the summer working with a personal trainer to ensure he was in peak condition for the season.
Everton manager David Moyes is understood to have been a long-time admirer of the player and pushed for his arrival.
Speaking to the club’s media after the move was confirmed, Grealish said that after speaking with Moyes, he knew “there was only one place that I wanted to go”.
Meanwhile, Manchester City could turn to Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma if goalkeeper Ederson leaves before the transfer window deadline.
Ederson has been linked with a move to Galatasaray, although he has previously made it clear he wants to stay at the Etihad.
PSG are open to selling Donnarumma after signing Lucas Chevalier as their new No 1. Although City have already re-signed the 21-year-old James Trafford from Burnley, the club may be open to signing a more experience goalkeeper if Ederson were to leave.
